Floral Hall in Everett, WA is a long standing favorite city park venue of mine. Over the years, I have done events there. From a reception only to a family reunion or even a celebration of life Floral Hall is an affordable rental option.

The wood features are beautiful. It definitely can give off that older, rustic feeling or a Pacific Northwest vibe. I have had couples who have done a country chic theme to rustic and almost nothing but country theme while other times, the rich wood features have complimented a room full of stringed white lights or delicate paper lanterns.

The location is close off of the freeway and has access to a neighborhood Safeway at the bottom of the hill, should you need any last minute or forgotten items. It is very popular venue so I suggest giving yourself plenty of time to schedule your event. If you would like to have a chance to view Floral Hall, you can attend a free open house on the first Tuesday of every month (except for holidays).

Wedding Rings

I once had a groom joke with me about whether or not I supplied my couples with the wedding rings. Hey, it never hurts to ask! (Just so you know, the answer is no.)

Looking for the perfect ring can be a daunting task. There are so many options out there!! Do you want to have matching bands? White gold, yellow gold, platinum, silver, titanium...... Diamonds or other precious stones? Decisions, decisions!! Regardless of what you select, I always suggest that my couples take into consideration a few things before they settle on "the ring".

1- Is the ring that you are looking for within your price range?
This may sound like a no brainer, but for many couples, it can be easily overlooked. I think any girl would love to wear a beautiful ring upon her finger. Lots of sparkle and something you could see from a football field away is going to come with a hefty price. Although many jewelry stores offer financing options, that pretty ring could easily double, triple or more in price after the interest fees are added upon the original cost.
Consider opting for a ring that you can either upgrade at a later time or, better yet, mark an anniversary with a trip to your jeweler to purchase a more elaborate set.

2- Does the ring you are considering match your lifestyle? Your personality?
This may seem like a ridiculous question but really, take a moment to consider this. It somewhat ties into the price range question I posed above but takes it a step further. If you are working in the service industry, would wearing a flashy ring be practical? For example, my husband in a journeyman plumber by trade. He also wears a large ring size. Although he doesn't work 24/7, he does spend quite a bit of time at work during the week. The combination of what he does for a living and the need to work with his hands often made him consider looking for a ring that was a comfort fit. He also selected a ring of a strong metal with impressions in the metal versus having a ring with diamonds, which could easily become lost. Some of his coworkers choose to wear their rings on a chain because of the risk of their rings becoming damaged or being a safety issue.

A ring that matches your personality is also something to consider. Some people want a ring that is unique just as their personalities. Others may opt to have a more modest wedding ring, without too many bells and whistles. Regardless of your reasons, consider a piece that is reflective of who you are and your style.

3- What does your ring symbolize?
Remember, a wedding ring is an outward symbol of your wedding vows. These promises that you made during your wedding ceremony mean different things to different people. At the end of the day, when you catch yourself glancing down at that left ring finger remind yourself of your commitment to your spouse and the words that you answered with "I will", "I do" or maybe wrote and spoke yourself.

I know, so many variables to consider!

The End of Summer

What seemed to be a summer filled with fall-like weather is over. Can you believe it? The kids are back to school and the rest of the state seems to be trying to get back into a rhythm. But the fall is another wonderful time of the year for wedding bells!

There are some wonderful wedding themes and venues that are just waiting to be discovered! Some clients stage their wedding venue at a family or friend's home while others explore the options that await them. In the PNW, it's a must to have an indoor venue during the fall. Some great ideas to consider are your local Parks & Rec departments (if you're a resident of that city, ask about the reduced resident rate aka a discount!!), a restaurant that can accomodate a ceremony and a reception, or not to forget a hotel! My personal favorites include Floral Hall or Legion Hall in Everett; Tulalip Bay inside of The Tulalip Resort in Tulalip (Marysville); Countryside Meadows in Arlington; the Medallion Hotel in Arlington; and Hillcrest Lodge in Mt. Vernon.